Development of Domestic Fish Marketing

The establishment of domestic markets plays a very crucial role in the development of fisheries sector in the country. Apart from ensuring nutritional and food security, it also helps in minimizing post-harvest losses, increase revenue, enhance employment opportunities and offers high standards of hygiene and sanitation leading to food safety. 

The fish produced in the country both from marine and inland sectors, is marketed domestically through a network of wholesale, major, minor retail, roadside markets, etc. The majority of domestic markets are unhygienic and the fish storing and handling facilities are poor. There is also a lack of proper transportation system including roads, refrigerated vehicles, etc. Availability of potable water, good quality ice, electricity, waste disposal system, etc. is inadequate. There is considerable time lag during the transportation of fish from the landing centre to the interior markets which results in poor quality of material leading to food borne diseases, nutritional and post harvest loss. The activities proposed under NFDB for development of domestic marketing are expected to significantly contribute in reducing post harvest losses, enhance revenue and also improve the hygienic and sanitary conditions in fish markets.

Components of Assistance

In the backdrop of the above, the following areas have been identified for the development of domestic fish marketing system in the country as part of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada scheme:

• Construction of fish retail markets including ornamental fish/aquarium markets
• Construction of fish kiosks including kiosks of aquarium/ornamental fish
• Fish Value Add Enterprises Units

Eligibility criteria

• Beneficiaries include Fishers, Fish farmers, Fish workers and Fish vendors, Fisheries Development corporations, Self Help Groups (SHGs)/Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) in fisheries sector, Fisheries cooperatives, Fisheries Federations, Entrepreneurs and private firms, Fish Farmers Producer Organizations/Companies (FFPOs/Cs), SCs/STs/Women/Differently abled persons
• Beneficiaries will provide documentary evidence of availability of requisite land (either own/registered lease), necessary clearances /permissions from the concerned State/UT/authority as may be required. In case of lease land, the minimum lease period should be 10 years from the date of submission of DPR/SCP and the registered lease document will be included in the Detailed Project Report (DPR)/SCP.

Pattern of Assistance

Source: National Fisheries Development Board